GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (1-1, 0-0 PSAC West) 
at Mercyhurst Lakers (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West)
Saturday, September 26, 2015 | 1:00 p.m.
Tullio Field | Erie, Pa.

Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com 
Live Stats: IUPathletics.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats

THE GAME
The Crimson Hawks take their first road trip of the season as they open up PSAC West play at Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff in Erie is set for 1 p.m. IUP rebounded last week to defeat Lock Haven 38-13 for its first win of the season, finishing with 372 yards rushing while scoring its second defensive touchdown of the season. The Lakers enter the week with a 3-0 record and are currently riding a 10-game win streak, with their last loss coming in 2014 at the hands of the Crimson Hawks. IUP holds a 5-2 edge in the all-time series, which dates back to 2008, the year Mercyhurst joined the PSAC. 

The game will be broadcast on WQMU 92.5 FM with the voice of IUP Athletics, Jack Benedict, calling the action. You can also listen on u92radio.com and on the u92radio app on your smartphone. 

STORYLINES
• Mercyhurst enters Saturday on a 10-game win streak, with its last loss coming on Sept. 27, 2014 at IUP (41-7). During their 10-game streak, the Lakers are averaging 345.3 passing yards and 39.1 points per game. 
• In last year's 41-7 win over Mercyhurst, the IUP defense limited the Lakers to just 10 first downs and 151 yards of total offense. QB Brendan Boylan went 4-12 for 59 yards. 
• Two IUP running backs - both backups - have run for 100 yards in a game this season, including So. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) (195 yards) against Kutztown and R-So. RB Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) (109) against LHU.
• IUP's rushing offense leads the PSAC and ranks fourth in the country at 322.5 yards per game. IUP totaled 372 rushing yards against Lock Haven last week, the most since 388 against SRU on Oct. 6, 2014. 
• The two-QB system could be in the plans for IUP again this week. Both Gr. QB Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton) and R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) have earned one start this year and have split time during the Crimson Hawks' 1-1 start. The two have combined to complete 51.7 pct of their passes for 314 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. 
• The IUP defense has scored defensive touchdowns in each game so far this season, bringing the total to 11 since 2011. Both touchdowns this year came on interception returns - Sr. LB Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills) 19 yards and R-So. Matt Mowad (Easton, Pa. /Easton) 23 yards. 
• IUP HC Curt Cignetti has never lost to Mercyhurst, posting wins in each of his four previous meetings with Lakers' HC Marty Schnaetzle. It's one of three PSAC West teams that Cignetti has not lost to - 4-0 vs. Clarion and 2-0 vs. Seton Hill. 

NOTEBOOK
IUP vs. THE PSAC WEST
Since 1986, IUP has the most overall wins and divisional wins of any team in the PSAC West. The program owns an overall record of 247-82-1 (.748) along with a conference record of 146-36-1 (.798). IUP also owns 16 divisional crowns in the last 29 seasons. 

CIGNETTI vs. THE PSAC WEST
HC Curt Cignetti is 20-8 in his previous four seasons against schools from the PSAC West, including a 6-1 mark in the Crimson Hawks' 2012 conference championship season. He has not lost to Mercyhurst, boasting a 4-0 record against the Lakers and outscoring them a combined 135-64. 

THE DAWN OF A NEW OFFENSIVE ERA
2015 marks a new era for the IUP offense as the Crimson Hawks have switched to an up-tempo spread set. New OC Marty Higgins joined the coaching staff this summer from Upper Iowa University, bringing with him an offensive philosophy that averaged 34.5 points and 461 yards in 11 games last season. It will be the first time since the 1970s that IUP will not run an "I" formation or pro set. Click on the above PDF for more information.

THE NEW OC - MARTY HIGGINS
Higgins spent the 2013 and 2014 seasons as UIU's offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, helping the Peacocks score 680 points in 22 games (31.0 ppg). UIU boasted five All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) players last season, including QB Cole Jaeschke (304.5 pyds/game); RB Chris Smith (127.1 ryds/game); and WR Derek Giesking (9.3 rec/game). 

NEW LOOK OFFENSE HAS PROVIDED MORE BIG PLAYS THIS YEAR 
IUP's new spread offense has provided excitement early this season with 10 plays of 20 yards or more. Eight of those plays have been rushes, while four total have gone for touchdowns. IUP has two 60-yard plays, including last week's 61-yard run by R-Fr. RB Shannon Jackson (Fairview, Pa. /Fairview). Last season, IUP averaged 3.5 plays of 20-plus yards each game and only had 10 rushes that covered that distance all season long. 

IUP is 26-6 UNDER CURT CIGNETTI WHEN A RUNNING BACK REACHES 100 YARDS
In his four-plus seasons as head coach, Cignetti has a 26-6 record when an IUP running back rushes for at least 100 yards in a game. There are now three running backs on the 2015 roster who have 100-yard games to their credit: So. Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic) with five, So. Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) with two, and R-So. Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) with one. During the Cignetti era at IUP, De'Antwan "Rocket" Williams has the most 100-yard games with 12 while Harvie Tuck had six. 

EIGHT DIFFERENT RUNNING BACKS HAVE 100-YARD GAMES UNDER CIGNETTI
With 109 yards by So. RB Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) against Lock Haven, Cignetti has how seen eight different running backs rush for 100 yards in a game since 2011. Even more proof of the depth at the position, six of those backs went over the century mark while listed as a backup on the depth chart.

IUP RANKS FOURTH IN DIVISION II IN RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
On the strength of their 372 yards against Lock Haven, the Crimson Hawks head into this week leading the PSAC and ranked fourth in the country with 322.5 rushing yards per game. IUP has rushed for 645 yards and six touchdowns on 104 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Click on the above PDF for more information.

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE DEEP AT THE RUNNING BACK POSITION
Even with the change in offensive philosophy, the Crimson Hawks are still very deep in the backfield in 2015. So. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) ran for a career-high 195 yards and a touchdown against Kutztown while So. RB Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic) ran for 84 yards against Lock Haven. Harris, listed as the third-string back, rushed for 109 yards in his first extended playing time against the Bald Eagles and Jackson added 68 yards in the fourth quarter last week. 

HEY, IT'S LUIGI!
Lista-Brinza had his first game this year of 100 all-purpose yards last week, bringing his career total to seven. As one of the top freshman backs in Division II last year, Lista-Brinza averaged 76.9 rushing yards per game while earning 2nd team All-PSAC West honors. He totaled 100 all-purpose yards six times in his first seven games. IUP is now 6-1 when he reached 100 all-purpose yards. Click on the above PDF for more information.

IUP IS ONE OF YOUNGEST TEAMS AT QB IN THE PSAC
The Crimson Hawks have one of the youngest quarterback units in the PSAC, with two true freshmen and a redshirt freshman listed among the four total players. Only Gr. QB Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton) played a collegiate game before this season, and he and R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) have each played this season, with both getting one start. Click on the above PDF for more information.

HASLETT AND WILLIAMS CONTINUE TO SEE PLAYING TIME BEHIND CENTER
Haslett made his 11th career start in the season opener against Kutztown, with Williams coming off the bench and playing most of the second half. They flipped roles against Lock Haven, with Williams earning his first career start while Haslett came off the bench. The two have combined to plaet 51.7 pct (31-60) of their passes for 314 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. 

THE CHASE IS ON
Haslett has played in 13 career games with 11 starts, including the season-opener against Kutztown. In limited time this year, he's completed 14-22 passes (63.6 pct) for 107 yards and one touchdown. Last year he averaged 198.0 passing yards per game and completed 60.4 pct of his passes, which is tied for 5th in program single season history. He threw for 359 yards against Cal and 361 against Slippery Rock. Click on the above PDF for more information.

WILLIAMS PROVIDES IUP WITH FIRST TRUE DUAL THREAT QB IN YEARS
Williams added another dimension to the IUP quarterback position with the ability to run as well as throw. The redshirt freshman is second on the team with 117 rushing yards and has two touchdowns. He put up 215 yards of total offense (163 pass, 52 rush) with a 63-yard passing touchdown and a 33-yard rushing touchdown in his first career game against Kutztown.
• Four-year starting quarterback at Sto-Rox HS in McKees Rocks, Pa. 
• Three-star member of Temple's 2014 recruiting class
• Finished HS career has the WPIAL's all-time leading passer with 8,509 yards and 102 touchdowns
• Also rushed for nearly 3,000 yards in HS career
• Fab 22 selection, WPIAL Co-Offensive Player of the Year, and the 2012 Big 7 Player of the Year 

CRIMSON HAWKS HAVE YOUTHFUL GROUP OF WIDEOUTS
Of the 14 wide receivers on the Crimson Hawks' 2015 roster, 11 carry freshman or sophomore eligibility. The two-deep for the Crimson Hawks' game against Mercyhurst includes four freshmen or sophomores, including starters So. Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) and R-Fr. Swahneek Brown (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg). 

WALT'S WORLD
Pegues is IUP's top receiving threat, catching 13 passes for 164 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown from Williams in the opener. Since the stretch run of his true freshman season, Pegues has come on strong with 38 receptions for 566 yards and four touchdowns in six games. Click on the above PDF for more information.

PEGUES IS AN ALL-PURPOSE THREAT
Not only is Pegues coming on as a receiver, but he has been a threat all over the field since arriving on campus last year. As a true freshman in 2014, Pegues led the Crimson Hawks with 1,466 all-purpose yards. Three times he totaled more than 200 all-purpose yards, including a season-high 282 at Gannon. This year Pegues leads the Crimson Hawks with 234 all-purpose yards, including 114 (12 rush, 49 receiving, 53 punt returns) against Lock Haven. Click on the above PDF for more information.

HOLD THAT LINE
Like many other positional groups, the offensive line is very young, with nine redshirt or true freshmen among the 16 total players. The most seasoned member of the line is R-Sr. OL Jorge Vicioso (Passaic, N.J./Passaic), who has 25 games and 23 starts under his belt. He's returned to his familiar right tackle spot this year. Jr. OL Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) has played in 19 games and has 16 starts in two-plus seasons, and saw time at both left guard and left tackle during fall camp. The current offensive line has a combined 85 games played and 58 starts.

IUP LINEBACKERS AGAIN PROVIDE DEPTH IN 2015
The Crimson Hawks boast a seasoned linebacking corps in 2015. Three players - R-Sr. Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills), R-Jr. Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) and Jr. Myles Catlin (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Obama) - have combined for 75 games played and 34 starts. They have each produced during their time on the field, combining for 363 tackles and 35.0 TFLs. Click on the above PDF for more information.

KEVIN CLARKE HAS SIX DOUBLE-FIGURE TACKLE GAMES
Clarke finished with 14 total tackles - eight solo - against Lock Haven on Saturday. It was his sixth career double-figure tackle game, all in his last 13 games. A first team preseason All-American by D2Football.com,  Clarke is third in the PSAC with 11.5 tackles per game this year after posting 117 total tackles as a first-year starter in 2014. That number led the PSAC West as he earned first team all-conference honors. He had five double-figure tackle games, including a season-high 21 against Slippery Rock. Click on the above PDF for more information.

IUP HAS SCORED 11 DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS SINCE 2011; 37 SINCE 2003
Annually one of the PSAC's - and the nation's - strongest defenses, IUP has scored 11 total defensive touchdowns since 2011 and 37 since 2003. Already with two in 2015, IUP has had four in a season on three different occasions, and at least one every year since 2003. Below the 11 touchdowns since 2011.

GIBSON ONE OF THE BEST IN MAKING PLAYS IN OPPONENTS BACKFIELDS
Sr. DE Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury) enters this week ranked second in the PSAC and 12th in the country with 2.25 tackles-for-loss per game. He also leads the Crimson Hawks with 2.0 sacks this season and is second on the team with 17 total tackles. In his last 13 games he's totaled 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 8.0 sacks. 

THE CRIMSON HAWKS BOAST INCREDIBLE DEPTH IN THE SECONDARY
With last year's losses of R-Sr. SS Eric Williams (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) and R-So. CB Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School), multiple true freshmen saw playing time for the Crimson Hawks. With the return of both players, IUP now boasts a deep secondary unit that includes seven players who have combined for 110 games and 75 starts. Click on the above PDF for more information.

PEGUES COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS RETURN MEN IN THE NATION
Last year as a freshman, Pegues earned first team All-PSAC West honors as a kick returner. He averaged 24.6 yards on 24 kickoff returns and a school-record 19.4 yards on 11 punt returns. His most exciting play came against Seton Hill on Homecoming, taking back a punt 96 yards untouched for a touchdown. It was the longest punt return and fourth longest play in IUP history. This year, Pegues is averaging 17.7 yards on three punt returns. 

YOUTH MOVEMENT
With a different recruiting style over the last two offseasons, the Crimson Hawks go into 2015 with a very young roster of 86 players. Included in those 86 are: 35 freshmen, 25 sophomores, 16 juniors, and 10 seniors/graduate students. 11 sophomores saw playing time as true freshmen last year, combining for 41 total starts during the season. 

IUP AT HOME IN MILLER STADIUM
Since 1986, IUP has a 139-31-1 (.816) overall record at George P. Miller Stadium. In those 29-plus seasons, IUP posted a perfect 7-0 home record six times and had 25 consecutive wins between 1989 and 1992. 11 times IUP has hosted an NCAA playoff game at Miller Stadium, boasting a 9-2 mark in those games. 

EIGHT TRANSFERS JOIN CRIMSON HAWKS IN 2015
IUP welcomed eight transfers this year, including R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) from Temple, R-Fr. WR Kyler Diehl (Loysburg, Pa./North Bedford) from Penn State, and R-So. RB Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) from UMass. The Crimson Hawks also have transfers from the Division II and Division III levels and a pair from junior colleges. 

THE NEW DRESS CODE
The Crimson Hawks will take the field in 2015 with brand new Nike uniforms. The "Air Attack" uniforms are made of Nike Dri-FIT fabric and include crimson home and white away jerseys, with the gray pants. IUP will also wear a new matte gray helmet with the familiar IUP football logo on the side. 

MARYLAND - THE OLD LINE STATE
70 of IUP's 88 players hail from Pennsylvania, but the state with the second most players on the roster is Maryland with eight. Three of those players are from Frederick, Md., including Fr. WR Isiah Mims (Frederick, Md./Oakdale) and Fr. LB Drew Yarborough (Frederick, Md./Oakdale) from Oakdale HS and Fr. DL Casey Alvarado (Frederick, Md./Lingapore) from Lingapore HS.